March 16, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky baseball team didn't let up on Michigan State Sunday after winning the first two games of the series on Saturday to earn a 5-0 win over the Spartans to sweep the three-game series. The shutout was the third by the Hilltoppers this season and capped the team's first series sweep since taking three from New Mexico State last season.
Western got a solid performance from senior Kenny Hughes (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.) who was making his first appearance in three weeks. Hughes (1-1) tossed six innings of scoreless baseball scattering four hits to get his first win of the season. The lefty struck out four batters. Andy Baldwin (Jr., Campbellsville, Ky.) and Matt Wilhite (Sr., Franklin, Ky.) relieved Hughes to help preserve the shutout. Baldwin allowed one hit in two innings, while Wilhite retired the side after walking the first batter he faced to complete the shutout.
Western took the lead in the bottom of the third. With one out, Rafael Vallejo (The Bronx, N.Y.) legged out a bunt down the third base line for a hit. Vallejo moved to third when Matt Johnston (Jr. Clarkson, Ky.) put the ball in the hole between first and second on a hit-and-run. With one out, Matt Gunning (Jr., Victoria, B.C.) picked up his twelfth RBI with a sacrifice fly to left. Johnston's hit was his second of the game extending his hitting streak to 15 games.
The Hilltoppers broke open the game in the sixth when they tallied four more runs. Tim Grogan (Fr., Villa Hills, Ky.) led off with a single and moved to second when Matt Ransdell (Fr., Bowling Green, Ky.) reached on an error. After a single by sophomore Brent Miller (Muncie, Ind.) loaded the bases, David Lower (Sr., Anderson, Ind.) roped a double off the base of the wall in right-center field driving in all three runners.
Western is off until Friday night when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette at 6 p.m. CST at Nick Denes Field in its first Sun Belt Conference game of the season.
